Timeline From The Past: Faith Assembly, Warsaw Speedway
From the Files of the Kosciusko County Historical Society
Editor’s note: This is a retrospective article that runs a few times a month on InkFreeNews.
Sept. 5, 1986 — Members of the Bumblebees, minor league tourney champs in the Warsaw Girls Softball League this season, are: Courtney Womack, Angie Wagoner, Dawn Curtis, Stephanie Hoppas, Amy Stephenson, Dawn Williams, coach Kay Parrett, Katrine Zimmerman, Shelly Slone, Jena Parrett, Christy Mock, Heather Glass, Michele Busch, coach George Parrett and Keri Weed.
Sept. 10, 1985 — A top-ranking Faith Assembly leader, Jack Farrell, recently quit the religious sect and told “The Body” that they are still “in bondage” to the late Dr. Hobart E. Freeman.
When approached a few weeks ago about leaving the group, the Rev. Farrell would not confirm that he had quit the sect.
However, sources now say Farrell quit the sect but not before he stunned the estimated 2,000 members with an announcement during a Sunday service in June.
Sources say that Farrell and Stan Hill, both residents of Kosciusko County, were the two assistant pastors hand-picked by Freeman a few years ago to help guide the group and deliver sermons. The Faith Assembly has been in the national limelight for the past two years because its members are taught to shun conventional medical care and rely on faith healing.
Farrell is the second high-ranking leader to leave the sect in less than a year.
Sept. 4, 1984 — DeWayne Barker and Randy Woodling were crowned track champions and Denny England, Randy Woodling and Bill Nichols found themselves taking home first place trophies for their featured victories Saturday night in the season championship at the Warsaw Speedway.
England, in his Terry’s Automotive-Car Tunes special sprint car, showed that a wet track is his track as he won his third feature this year. The early leader of the 40-lap feature was Barker, who was started from the pole position.
But as the race began to unfold, England started to close the gap with the lead. England’s car, which was set up for a wet track, passed Barker and took the lead and maintained it. The track worked in his favor as it stayed moist.
Promising driver Dave Darland came in second and Barker, involved in a yellow flag situation near the end of the race, ended up third.
– Compiled by InkFreeNews reporter Lasca Randels